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Article Dans Une Revue European Journal of Public Health Année : 2016

Neuroenhancement among university students: substance use, motivations and associated factors

Résumé

Introduction The aim of the present study was to identify the extent of prescription drug, alcohol, illicit psychoactive substance use ad soft enhancers for the purpose of neuroenhancement among French university students Methods A self-administered anonymous questionnaires were performed in 2015 among university students in three campuses in France (Rouen, Nanterre, and Dunkerque). Three different categories of substance use were used. The category ‘‘prescription drugs’’ included methylphenidate, modafinil, antidepressants, and beta-blockers. The category ‘‘drugs of abuse' including alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines. A third category called ‘‘soft enhancers’’ included vitamins, coffee, caffeine tablets, and energy drinks. Motivation of neurohancement was also collected Results A total of 1446 university students (648 in Rouen, 423 in Nanterre and 375 in Dunkerque) were included with a mean age of 20.2 years (SD = 2.1) and a sex ratio (M:F) of 0.44. Prescription drugs had been used once or sometimes in 1.2% of the sample CI95% [0.7-1.8], drugs of abuse by 6.2% IC95% [5.0-7.5] and sometimes for soft enhancers by 52.3% [49.7-54.9]. Arguments for neurohancement were to stay awake to study (43.3%), improve concentration (28.4%) and decrease stress (19.8%). 72.8% of users declared it was responding to their expectation . Factors associated with neurohancement were female gender AOR=1.4 [1.1-1.8], third year and more in the curriculum AOR=1.8 CI95% [1.3-2.6], student job AOR=1.4 CI95% [1.0-1.8], smoking AOR= 3.0 CI95% [2.2-4.0] and binge drinking AOR=1.9 CI95% [1.1-3.1]. Discussion Academic performance enhancement through the use of stimulant aims at enhancing cognition to achieve better academic results and had a multifaceted life context in which it is embedded is of crucial relevance. It seems to be also interessant to weigh the medical, ethical and legal aspects corresponded to the students’ individual preferences of substances used for neurohancement. Key messages: Neuroenhancement with prescription drugs, abuse of drugs or soft enhancers is prevalent among university students Neurohancement seems to fulfil the expectations of the students that is mainly staying awake to study

Dates et versions

hal-03103250 , version 1 (04-03-2021)

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Marie-Pierre P Tavolacci, Alessandro Porrovecchio, Laurence Kern, G Zunquin, Lucia Romo, et al.. Neuroenhancement among university students: substance use, motivations and associated factors. European Journal of Public Health, 2016, 26 (suppl_1), ⟨10.1093/eurpub/ckw170.004⟩. ⟨hal-03103250⟩
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